Ryder Cup 2016 - as it happened: A look back at Europe's fight back in the fourballs

Follow the latest from the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Course

Garcia celebrates as he Europe fights back (Getty)

The 2016 Ryder Cup pits the United States against Europe once again in golf’s greatest rivalry, with the hosts looking to avoid a record fourth consecutive defeat when they meet at Hazeltine National Golf Course in Minnesota. Follow all the live action here.

• Defending champions Europe face the United States in the 41st Rydr Cup
• US have not won the Ryder Cup since 2008
• European captain Darren Clarke drops Masters champion Danny Willett from Friday foursomes
• Willett’s brother in astonishing foul-mouthed outburst on US fans
• Team USA start as favourites to regain the trophy
• Afternoon fourball pairings will be announced later today

Follow the live action below...

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Read more Ryder Cup news:
Willett sorry as brother calls US fans ‘fat, stupid, greedy b*******’
Mickelson takes thinly-veiled swipe at former captain Watson
Eight things you didn’t know about Hazeltine Golf Course

Teams

Team USA: Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Jimmy Walker, Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker, Zach Johnson, JB Holmes, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and Ryan Moore.

Team Europe: Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Chris Wood, Sergio Garcia, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Justin Rose, Andy Sullivan, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Thomas Pieters.

[30 September 2016 20:08 · Samuel Lovett]

Snedeker and Koepka vs Kaymer and Willett 

I spoke too soon...Snedeker popped in a gorgeous putt from at least 30-feet out. That gave Koepka the chance to take the hole but he couldn't capitalise. Willett up next to halve the hole...in it goes. The pair still trail by two.

[30 September 2016 20:25 · Samuel Lovett]

Snedeker and Koepka vs Kaymer and Willett 

Over at the fifth, Willeet plays a peach out of the rough but despite his lovely fantastic shot, he can't convert the initial putt. Snedeker steps in to halve the hole and it remains 2UP to the Americans.

[30 September 2016 20:54 · Samuel Lovett]

D Johnson and Kuchar vs McIlroy and Pieters 

Spirits are beginning to be lifted as McIlroy makes birdie on the fifth to move Europe to 3UP. This is encouraging stuff for the visitors following their nightmare start to the tournament.

[30 September 2016 21:04 · Samuel Lovett]

Snedeker and Koepka vs Kaymer and Willett 

Willett makes par on the seventh, as does Snedeker. It's a halved hole. The Europeans face an uphill battle to overturn this deficit but stranger things have happened.

[30 September 2016 21:07 · Samuel Lovett]

D Johnson and Kuchar vs McIlroy and Pieters 

You wouldn't think Pieters is making his first appearance at the Ryder Cup. He's seriously impressed so far, maintaining a calm and composed exterior, and continues his run of good form into the seventh where he drops his approach shot 15 feet of the pin to set up the Europeans well.

[30 September 2016 21:12 · Samuel Lovett]

Spieth and Reed vs Rose and Stenson

 

Rose carries 315 yards on the tenth, and finds the fairway. Stenson doesn't have the same fortune and his tee-shot settles in the rough on the left. He missed a hole-winning putt on the ninth, as did Rose. Will they come to regret that as they enter into the back nine?

[30 September 2016 21:16 · Samuel Lovett]

D Johnson and Kuchar vs McIlroy and Pieters 

Without Lee Westwood holding him back, the Belgian youngster has moved from strength to strength. He makes yet another birdie and that's the fourth hole in a row for the Europeans. They're 4UP now.

[30 September 2016 22:16 · Samuel Lovett]

Snedeker and Koepka vs Kaymer and Willett 

It's shaping up to be a 'red-wash' in the third match as Snedeker and Koepka move to 5UP. Thank goodness all the three matches are swinging in Europe's favour at the moment.

[30 September 2016 23:08 · Samuel Lovett]

Snedeker and Koepka vs Kaymer and Willett 

America take their first point in the fourballs this afternoon as Snedeker and Koepka wrap up on the 14th. Kaymer needed to chip in from the edge to win the hole but it was too big an ask. Snedeker was red hot on the greens throughout and the pair thoroughly deserved the point.

[30 September 2016 23:16 · Samuel Lovett]

Holmes and Moore vs Garcia and Cabrera Bello 

Holmes shanks his drive and the ball veers out of sight into the trees. Moore follows it up and gives it an almighty whack but he also struggles to find the fairway.